Troy, Illinois

Safety Bulletin

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Parents and caregivers rely on school buses to safely take children to and from school. Safety depends heavily on motorists' obedience to the laws for approaching a school bus when loading or unloading passengers, regardless of location. Although school buses are the safest way to get them to school, an average of 33 school-age children die in school bus-related traffic crashes each year. What the law says and safety tips:

On two-lane roads, all traffic in both directions of travel must stop when meeting a stopped school bus.

On roads with four lanes or more, with traffic in both directions, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus need not stop.

A school bus' flashing yellow lights are a warning the bus will soon be stopping to load or unload passengers.

The extended stop signal arm and flashing red lights advise motorists the bus has stopped and is loading /unloading passengers.

Motorists may proceed after stopping for a bus if one of the following occurs: the bus resumes motion, the bus driver signals the motorist to proceed, or the flashing lights are turned off and the stop arm signal is no longer extended.

State law requires school buses to stop for all railroad crossings. The school bus will display the hazard warning lights as it stops momentarily to determine if it is safe to cross.

The majority of children injured or killed in pupil transportation are injured outside the bus. Most are struck by motorists who fail to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm. This area around the bus is often referred to as the "Danger Zone."

Penalties for illegally passing a school bus - First offense - mandatory minimum fine of $150 and 3-month suspension of driver's license. Second offense or subsequent conviction within five years - mandatory minimum fine of $500 and one year suspension of driver's license. A motorist cited for illegal passing a school bus is not eligible for court supervision.

Help us keep our children safe. Use common sense and extreme caution when driving by school crossing guards and be aware of loaded school buses.

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